Winky is a Fennec Fox who came to us as an owner surrender because she was not legal to own in California. They travelled too much and were too busy to care for her properly.
She was not very socialized, so it has taken us awhile to gain her trust! She now lives with her boyfriend, Dobby. We were super excited to make her part of the Animal Tracks family, as Fennec foxes are very social animals, and we couldn’t be happier that they are now together!!! Winky is definitely the boss of him, but he isn’t afraid to speak up when she goes too far. We love watching them play together, they have two levels to their enclosure and it’s so much fun watching them chase each other all around and up and down throughout the day. They like to bury treats and go back to them later and dig them up for a snack, we’ve seen Winky many times find Dobby’s stash while he’s napping and steal all of his treats. He loves her though, so he doesn’t seem to mind too much!
ORDER: Carnivora
FAMILY: Canidae
GENUS: Vulpes
SPECIES: Zerda
Fennec foxes are the smallest canine in the wild. They make dens and sleep during the hottest part of the day in Sub- Saharan Africa. They are crepuscular or active at dawn and dusk. Most foxes are solitary but not the fennecs, they love family and live in groups of 10 or more. Due to the temperature in which they live they have several very important adaptations. They have a very thick coat and tail for cold desert night and furry feet to walk on burning hot sand during the day. This would be only for emergencies though like a snake in their den, as normally they would be sleeping during the hottest part. They have incredible hearing. They can hear a watch tick from 50 feet away. This helps them find their prey when it is underground. They are lightening fast as their food can be dangerous like scorpions and tarantulas. When catching a scorpion they bite off the stinger and then eat it like a potato chip. They are monogamous and after a 50 day gestation period will have 2 to 4 kits in March or April. They reach sexual maturity at about 10 months of age.
Threats
Road construction and human encroachment, fur trade and pet trade.
Conservation Status
LC - Least Concern